ww2 german uniform question
- Thread starter Dosing
- Start date
Dark Alley Dan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Darkest Edmonton
Reaching way back here, but I believe the banded piping was an SA or early SS thing, no?
Looks like he's wearing a button ribbon that indicates an iron cross of a lower rating as well. Closest I can come for that collar insignia, in my little Ballantine manual , is Sicherheits Dienst, Security Service of the SS, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it. 
Grizz
Grizz
Last edited:
SS (SS-VT) Oberleutnant Fachführer or Lieutenant 'specialist leader', in this case for steam boiler manufacture - Basically a specialist advisor/consultant to the SS. Typically these were the guys who were industrialists, community leaders or men who were of high importance with the ability to influence others that were either too old to serve in regular forces or too valuable in their civilian lives, yet the Nazis were eager to see them in uniform.
From the interweb -
"SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT) (English: SS Dispositional Troops) was formed in 1934 as combat troops for the Nazi Party (NSDAP). On 17 August 1938 Adolf Hitler decreed that the SS-VT was neither a part of the police nor the German Wehrmacht, but military-trained men at the disposal of the Führer. At the time of war, the SS-VT were to be placed at the disposal of the army. "
From the interweb -
"SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT) (English: SS Dispositional Troops) was formed in 1934 as combat troops for the Nazi Party (NSDAP). On 17 August 1938 Adolf Hitler decreed that the SS-VT was neither a part of the police nor the German Wehrmacht, but military-trained men at the disposal of the Führer. At the time of war, the SS-VT were to be placed at the disposal of the army. "
Last edited:
Yup, that is Herr Achenbach’s company today. I doubt that photo is hanging in the lobby.
Brookwood
Germans have very convenient memories, I always get a chuckle out of the Krupp Thyssen Elevator Co. , major players in the field.
Grizz
Here's an excellent, thoroughly researched and well written book backed up with plenty of supporting documents. We all know the story of how the rocket scientists were brought over to build the fledgling US space program, but this book covers the little known story of how Nazi industrialists were integrated into the US post-war manufacturing economy in exchange for clemency. I've read it a few times, I highly recommend it, pretty shocking how the US Govt. at the time turned a blind eye to some of these guy's war time actions. Krupp gets tried for crimes against humanity but the guys who developed and produced Tabun nerve agent get treated like royalty, get senior management positions with well known American pharmaceutical companies, honorary Doctorates and wind up with both Govt. and corporate pensions.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17333289-operation-paperclip
Last edited:
Agreed, awarded the Iron Cross and looks like one of the ribbons is for the Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918. Can't make out the other ribbon...looks like is has some device on on it.Looks like he's wearing a button ribbon that indicates an iron cross of a lower rating as well. Closest I can come for that collar insignia, in my little Ballantine manual , is Sicherheits Dienst, Security Service of the SS, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it.
Grizz
WW1 German ribbon bars are incredibly difficult to conclusively identify from a black and white photo taken at an oblique angle. Virtually every State, Province, Region and sometimes City had their own medals and they all were similar variations of the same stripe pattern but with unique colour combinations. In this particular case, the only clearly and easily identified decoration is the Iron Cross 2nd Class as seen by the ribbon through the 2nd button hole. The ribbon on the left side of the bar appears to have a combat action laurel (signifying the award was won for action against the enemy while under fire). Aside from that, without knowing the colours, those ribbons could be for a myriad of decorations.
Brookwood
Brookwood
